Why the Touchback Fumble Is Actually the Best Rule in Football and You're Wrong

As is usually the case every year or so, we had another fumble through the end zone in a big spot in the Browns-Chiefs game. Cleveland was going in for a score that could have potentially changed the game and gotten it back to a one-possession game before halftime, but Rashard Higgins lost the football through the end zone, resulting in a turnover.

And for some reason I still have yet to figure out, people freak out every time this happens and call this the "worst rule in football." And I gotta be honest: if you think that, I think less of you.

In an era where we have college teams putting up 60 points per game and NFL teams figuring out ways to get there, this is the one rule we have in the game that actually benefits the defense. If you're able to jar the ball loose from an offensive player in the most critical area of the field, you deserve the turnover.

Many people then point to the fact that fumbles out of bounds in the field of play go back to the offense, but I actually think that's the rule that needs to change, not this one. Why do we reward the offense for fumbling the football and being aided by the sideline? It makes far more sense to me that every fumble out of bounds would result in a turnover rather than those in the most important area of the field going back to the offense.

And what does everyone suggest we do after this happens? Give the offense the ball at the 1-yard line like nothing happened? No thank you.

People who think this rule doesn't make sense probably also hate players celebrating. Much the same way you can prevent celebrations by not letting your opponent do something worthy of celebrating, you can prevent this situation by not fumbling the football.

I'm very glad this happened today. Don't fumble the ball if you don't want the other team to have it.